Stakeholders in the Kigezi Sub-region have urged the government to address the issue of unstable power supply in the area instead of burdening them with high taxes while businesses remain stagnant.
During the 2023 post-Budget engagement organized by the Uganda Revenue Authority and Ministry of Finance at Cephas Inn Hotel in Kabale Municipality, Aggrey Mastiko, the proprietor of Bricop’s International Limited, and Lydia Turyahumura, a businesswoman and Chairman of the Kabale District Forum for the Democratic Change, raised concerns about the unstable power supply.
In response to the presentation by John Muherwoha, the acting commissioner in charge of the Budget Policy and Evaluation Department at the Ministry of Finance, Aggrey Matsiko proposed that the government separate the Maziima Hydro-electricity generating dam from the national grid, as it is consistently in production.
He argued that connecting the dam to the grid has not brought any benefits to the area since it also experiences power outages like the rest of the region.
Aggrey Mastiko and Lydia Turyahumura emphasized that having electric poles without electricity serves no purpose and has significantly hindered productivity in Kabale.
They pointed out that the unstable power supply has resulted in substantial business losses, and relying on generators is costly, especially considering the additional taxes imposed on electricity by the government.
Nelson Nshangabasheija, the Chairman of Kabale District LC5, expressed his disappointment in seeing Rwanda, a neighboring country; enjoy constant power supply while Uganda continues to face frequent disruptions. He stressed the need for urgent intervention and highlighted that the residents should also benefit from the taxes they pay.
In response, John Muherwoha reaffirmed that the government is actively engaging with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to address the distribution of power in the next financial year on a medium-term basis.
